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Original poster

Did your tinnitus improve with time?

79 replies

UnplainJane · 01/03/2021 11:23

Had it 5 months now and the BTA websites underlying message is that it gets better with time - I understand this means you just adapt to it as the 'norm' at some point so it's not as bothersome. Obviously I hope it'll go but looking very unlikely! I've seen various HCPs and nothing wrong, hearing is good.

Just looking for others experience of it 'getting better with time'...... Don't know if it makes a difference but I've got various noises/pitches going on, not just one tone.

OP posts:
BatleyTownswomensGuild · 01/03/2021 20:22

Mine stayed relatively stable for years. Then I got COVID which started in my head and behind my ears and it's been dreadful ever since....

Original poster
UnplainJane · 01/03/2021 20:34

Sorry to those who are also struggling but I'm going to take heart from the 'veterans' on here and hope it's just easier to cope with over time. I do think the key is to stop analysing it and to accept it's there. Think it's time to stop googling it after 5 months.....

OP posts:
Original poster
UnplainJane · 01/03/2021 20:38

@awaynboilyurheid I've been having a spike of one of my noises the last couple of days, prior to that I was coping quite well for a couple of weeks and thinking I was on the up. I'm hopeful it will all settle down again soon and continue to be more copeable as time goes on. I read it can take up to 18 months or longer though.

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LongTimeMammaBear · 01/03/2021 20:40

My tinnitus “they” believe is from hearing loss. It was the tinnitus plus not being able to hear conversations that started me looking into what was going on. The tinnitus was a low buzzing sound but grew into roaring sound that drove me crazy, I would just cry from despair. I have hearing aids now so s really hearing something has cut down the “loudness” most often but some times it’s just all consuming

Having had some CBT from a specialist nhs unit has helped me cope better. I don’t have a melt down nor get so anxious about it and try meditation. So in effect, you cope better but no, the tinnitus for me didn’t get better.

Caffeine, alcohol and stress do make the tinnitus a bit louder.

Original poster
UnplainJane · 01/03/2021 21:05

@LongTimeMammaBear How long have you had it for? I'm happy to aim for just coping better with it and not letting it affect my mood as much as it does. I have no idea what's caused mine.

OP posts:
LongTimeMammaBear · 01/03/2021 21:18

I first noticed the tinnitus in October 2019. It gradually got worse as did the hearing loss and sought help in January 2020, but needed MRI to rule out a growth on a nerve, got disrupted by covid and nothing happened. By April 2020,the sound was intense and all consuming, driving me literally crazy. Very much thought I was losing my mind. Fortunately things then somewhat opened up and I got hearing aids AND specialised CBT. So I cannot cope better.

I was also advised to try meditation. This helps to combat anxiety when I’m having a particularly bad bout I think it may help the extreme flare ups (for want of a better term).

The CBT was NHS, on line via a specialist clinic at a county hospital. I would say I was a good patient because I was desperate for help and willing to try anything. So was very open to it.

Pippa234 · 01/03/2021 21:31

5 months in like you mine was terrible, I also couldn't bare any sort of high pitched noise or screaming/shouting.
It would also change more.
I used to cry not being able to imagine how I could live without ever experiencing silence again.

It took me a couple of years to get used to it.
I am able to tune it out more now.
I don't notice it during the day because I am used to it. Unless I think about it.
I notice it at night time but I am able to cope with it now.
It gets worse if I am stressed or unwell (head related)

But it doesn't effect my life as much.

You need to find ways to relax yourself and find your peace.
Mine is going to the woods, the russle of the trees is lovely and relaxing.
Also running water.
I am going to get a waterfall fountain for my garden.
You will most likely get used to it.
I know it's hard as people who don't have it just don't get it.Flowers

ladygindiva · 01/03/2021 21:32

I'm interested in knowing if anyone else has their sleep disturbed or is woken up by their tinnitus at night. I havent seen any comments as such. My tinnitus is there all the time on and off but I don't care about it in the day, but it drives me crazy at night and is making me sleep deprived.

Pippa234 · 01/03/2021 21:39

I found sleeping difficult in the first two years, it didn't wake me up but I remember lying there feeling miserable because I just couldn't get relaxed as the constant buzz would drive me crazy. How long have you had it @ladygindiva?

Original poster
UnplainJane · 01/03/2021 21:39

@ladygindiva Oddly enough mine seems to fade away over night - it's still there but just my brain losing it's focus I guess and it's at it's quietest in the morning. Just wish my brain would fade it away in the day time as well!

OP posts:
Original poster
UnplainJane · 01/03/2021 21:43

I don't think it wakes you up, I think it's just that you become more aware of it again when you are in light phase of sleep.

OP posts:
ladygindiva · 01/03/2021 22:15

I've had it about 2 years on and off. I believe it coincides with my cycle and the start of peri menopause. Seems worse when I lie down to sleep. It's torture. I'm hoping hrt might help. I've heard others say it has.

MouthAche · 01/03/2021 22:19

Im glad everything is ok with you and all tests have come back ok

I had it for awhile , doctor finally referred me to ENT, they ordered a routine scan and its a brain tumour... Luckily Benign !

EssexLioness · 01/03/2021 22:42

No, I’ve had mine about 7 1/2 years. If anything it has got worse. Some days I cope, others are pure torture

LongTimeMammaBear · 02/03/2021 08:30

@ladygindiva I used to be woken up by my tinnitus and bought a mask that had tiny speakers in it which can be Bluetooth Ed to your phone. I used to listen to various natural sounds. My favourite was a storm with rain in water. After having the CBT sessions, I no longer need this.

Hairbrush123 · 02/03/2021 08:45

I’ve had tinnitus since May 2019. I can remember the day remember my last day of complete silence and how oblivious I was to what was going to happen when I woke up.
I had been suffering with a horrific cold brought on by allergies while I was on holiday which eventually turned into labyrinthitis (thankfully I got home when it did that). I went to sleep one night and woke up with a ringing sound in my ear and I felt so sad. I hoped it would go away and it never did. I went for quite a comprehensive hearing test and no signs of hearing loss were detected. I was in a very dark place for seven months.

I’ve learned to deal with it so much better now. I just remind myself I’m no different to how I was pre tinnitus. I used to cry myself to sleep hearing the ringing but now I can read my book with no background noise and my ears will be buzzing and it doesn’t bother me at all. I don’t use white noise as I wanted to adapt to hearing it and getting used to it as quickly as I could. You will get used to it. It does get better. I would say it’s got slightly better over the years, it doesn’t sound as loud as it once did but it’s definitely there still. Not sure if it’s because I’ve habituated or what.

Have you had any blood tests? They say a lack of Vitamin B12 can cause tinnitus. Hopefully a change in diet can help.

Hairbrush123 · 02/03/2021 08:48

Also try not to let the thought of tinnitus consume your life. I was Googling constantly “will my tinnitus go away” “tinnitus gone stories” “how to make tinnitus go away” which really hindered my progress to habituate. I know it’s difficult but it does get better.

Pippa234 · 02/03/2021 09:58

"I've had it about 2 years on and off. I believe it coincides with my cycle and the start of peri menopause. Seems worse when I lie down to sleep. It's torture. I'm hoping hrt might help. I've heard others say it has."

I wonder if where you haven't had it non stop for two years whether thats the reason you haven't been able to tune it out?
It certainly takes time and I think the snippets where you are able to hear silence has probably made it harder for your adjustment perhaps?

canigooutyet · 02/03/2021 10:06

Wish I hadn’t opened this now. Years?!
I’ve had it for about a year. One of my cv symptoms was ear ache and ever since has tinnitus.
Mine is set off by certain noises.

awaynboilyurheid · 02/03/2021 11:29

I know when newly diagnosed you really don’t want to hear it can take years to get used to it! But thanks to those who say we will in time tune it out, just very very hard at times, pippa its sleeping I’m struggling with at the moment. During the day I can keep busy but night time even with my phone playing wave sounds or rain I can still hear it.

Why is there no treatment ??? It seems to affect so many, someone somewhere must get funded for research
Jaime Laing had it I read about it somewhere and saw on a programme he picked tinnitus as his charity we need to get someone to start a campaign !
the govt have promised money last year but who knows now if it will materialise now, although long COVID sufferers are mentioning tinnitus more so perhaps research might happen and a treatment might be found in time.

Pippa234 · 02/03/2021 13:45

@awaynboilyurheid when I first had it for the first 6 months it was pretty bad, the volume of it would increase dramatically at times I also had alot of fuzzy sounds and peoples voices sounded distorted.
It was seriously depressing.
If my kids would scream it would be extremely stressful the sound would alter alot.
I totally understand about bed time, I used to cry quite a bit to be honest.
But I can honestly say now it doesn't effect me.
Hopefully yours will be like that tooFlowers
And yes I agree there should be more research into it! I was told about support groups I could use but that was it.

I am sorry that two years sounds extreme @canigooutyet but you are in the hardest period at the moment and so you are obviously thinking that it will stay how it is right now. I think it's unlikely, when I saw the professional at the hospital about it he told me about your body getting used to it so you don't notice it anymore. He was completely right. Its unlikely to be the exact same how it is at the moment for the whole of the two years even another 6 months may make a big difference!

Original poster
UnplainJane · 02/03/2021 16:53

@LongTimeMammaBear Can I ask what the CBT sessions consisted of? Maybe I should look into something like that.

OP posts:
Original poster
UnplainJane · 02/03/2021 17:02

I also worry because mine isn't just one noise - I get different fluctuating noises in each ear that can be loud/quiet depending on what they want to do at any given time and also a general high pitched constant noise. I'm worried that I won't be able to get used to all of them, especially if they change a lot. I wish they would change to disappearing!

OP posts:
awaynboilyurheid · 02/03/2021 17:37

pippa thanks for advice and Unplain def look into CBT whatever helps ... I still can’t believe we have a condition that causes so much noise and stress yet are told just try to relax! There’s got to be more help than that, let’s all support British Tinnitus association and sponsor anyone raising funds for research.

RavingAnnie · 02/03/2021 18:03

Yes. Had it for 20+ years. Barely notice it most of the time now. Gets worse with bugs and blocked ears and when my thyroid hormones are low and then gets better again.

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